Liberal Democrats demand protected status for rivers in Oldham as sewage dumped more than 1,500 times last year
The Liberal Democrats have called for a new protected status for local rivers and marine protected areas, after shocking figures reveal that United Utilities dumped sewage 1,574 times in across Oldham in 2023 according to Environment Agency data.
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, the Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats, has welcomed the party’s General Election pledge to introduce ‘Blue Flag’ protected status for rivers and waterways in England. He called for new punishment taxes on the “profits of polluting water firms”.
Councillor Sykes said, “The Conservative government has allowed water firms to get away with destroying our environment. Across Oldham, sewage was dumped into waterways more than 1,500 times last year. That’s more than four times a day.”
“This is disgusting vandalism of our natural environment, and we have to put a stop to it.”
The Liberal Democrats have supported new taxes on the profits of water companies who dump sewage since 2022 and have now launched their new ‘Blue Flag’ status policy ahead of the General Election on July 4th.
The introduction of Blue Flag status would set legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumping in those sites, giving special protected status for swimmers and wildlife.
Councillor Sykes said, “We need to flush the Conservatives out of government. They have voted time and again to block new taxes on polluting water companies. The next government must get serious about cracking down on this destruction of English rivers.